Chrome. A laced 21-inch front wheel. Fat Bob® tank that’s been painted, polished and finished in distinguished nostalgic detail. Fists riding in the wind on a factory ape-hanger handlebar. Twin hidden shocks to cushion any ride. You’ve got enough heart in the counterbalanced black and chrome V-Twin to ride all day, thanks to 96-cubic-inches and a six-speed Cruise Drive™. And enough comfort in that big seat to keep your passenger more than content no matter how endless the trip.

Even without the optional Anniversary get up, it's a shining example of where all that tradition can take us. That sleek sheet metal up top is actually an airbox housing velocity stacks. Up front there's a new drag-strip-inspired laced wheel. At the center is a beefy 123-horsepower, 1,250-cubic-centimeter liquid-cooled Revolution® engine and new slipper clutch. Big 240-millimeter rear tire. Optional ABS brakes have been seamlessly engineered in. Sleek and clean. Let the adrenaline take over your bloodstream.

What those riders and their torches stumbled onto was a look that hasn’t lost a thing. Sit in the solo seat, reach up to the high handlebar, and the feeling is unmistakable. There’s plenty to enjoy when it’s not in motion, too. Like the sculpted emblems on the Fat Bob® tank. Black powder-coat and polished covers on the engine. Purists will recognize its no-holds-barred attitude. The neighbors will recognize its V-Twin rumble. Let’s be straight about this. It’s what the road calls for.

The top of the line, all wrapped up in stunning new Anniversary style. Like every Touring model, the Ultra Classic® gets the most out of a new longer-ranging six-gallon tank, with added miles of comfort in the seat plus new Brembo® brakes and our optional anti-lock (ABS) technology. Choose the Anniversary Ultra Classic® and ABS comes standard. The Touring ride is smoother than ever for 2008, thanks to a new rear Isolated Drive System (IDS). It improves ride quality by reducing drive line noise. Ultra Classic® riders get even more comfort with a full fairing and vented lowers, plus new fairing-mounted adjustable wind deflectors. There is a King Tour Pak® and GTX-nylon saddlebags. Cruise control. Harman/Kardon® Advanced Audio System and CB/Intercom. And making its own sweet music, a chromed six-speed Twin Cam 96™ engine, proudly exposed for all the world to admire.

More than 50 years ago, P.W. Tripp began Tripp’s Harley Davidson in Roswell, NM.  He eventually, and fortunately for us, moved the dealership to Amarillo.  The time came and all of his hard work gave him the ability to retire.  He turned the day to day operations over to his son, Terry.  And this week, the day to day operations, and the title of General Manager have been passed on to the third generation of Tripp, Jason Tripp. 

Jason, at the age of 29, was born and raised in the Harley-Davidson family.  He began working in the dealership at age15.  He has now worked in all departments of the dealership.  Jason is married to Tabitha, and they have two children, Noah 11, and Mary 4.

Jason says that he is up for the challenge, and is certainly looking forward to running the family business.  “My grandfather started this dealership and put in a number of years of hard work along with my grandmother to build it into a successful business.  My dad has continued with the hard work and worked at being an honest and trustworthy businessman.  I don’t take this responsibility lightly and am very proud to continue the legacy my family started.”

Jason is not a stranger in the dealership.  He is ready for this challenge, and ready for the summer season of 2008.  He is looking forward to working with everyone and continuing to build on the name of Tripp’s Harley-Davidson.

But with the excitement of Jason coming in, another part of Tripp’s history ends.  At the beginning of April, Shane Richmond, who has been the general manager of Tripp’s since 1997 leaves to start a new business opportunity in London, Kentucky.  Shane has been a great general manager and has been very supportive of our local HOG group, and so many other charitable organizations.  He will be greatly missed.  Good luck to him and his family.

Motorcyclists reminded that April is ‘Check Your Helmet Month’

H.O.G. is celebrating a fantastic milestone – 25 years of riding and having fun with a special CLUB H.O.G. 25 anniversary event in Milwaukee, WI on Thursday, August 28, 2008. 

Due to this unexpected occurrence, we will not be selling tickets for a separate concert inside Miller Park.  Instead, Kid Rock will join the entertainment for CLUB H.O.G. 25 on the exterior grounds of Miller Park – a free event. We’re pleased to announce that all entertainment during our 25 ^th Anniversary celebration at Miller Park will be free for all HOG members. 

The free event will feature:

• Live musical entertainment including Kid Rock, Sugarland, The Billy Bob Thornton Band, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Jason Michael Carroll, D.B. Bryant and Big Bob and the Ballroom Blitz
• Comedians –Greg Giraldo, John Bowman and Lewis Black
• A Ride-In Show sponsored by Dunlop Tires
• A Stunt Zone featuring stunt riders and drill teams
• H.O.G. Wall of Ink Tattoo Contest
• 25 ^th Anniversary commemorative merchandise
• MDA fund-raising activities
• And much, much more

H.O.G. members are welcome to bring one guest to CLUB H.O.G. 25. Show your H.O.G. membership card at the gate and walk right in. For complete event details, log on to members.hog.com.

We normally see a average of 8-25% increase in horsepower and torque by optimizing the fuel/air ratio (jetting on carburetors or fuel curve remapping on fuel injection), tuning exhaust and setting ignition advance parameters. This is true even if the customer reports that the motorcycle is already running good. The reason for this is the fact that it generally requires a 10% change in performance to give the rider a real “seat of the pants” feel on performance gains or losses.

With the sensitivity and repeatability of the modern dyno, the experienced dyno operator can see changes as fine as a few tenths of a horse or ft lb of torque. This capability allows him to make small adjustments that result in maybe a percentage point or two of gain, but in combination with all the aspects of engine tuning add up to significant increases in overall performance. This cannot be accomplished any other way.

Dyno testing is also invaluable for providing a motorcycle owner with a performance “baseline” that can be used for comparison to determine the ongoing condition of the bike or if performance enhancing modifications are to be installed.

Performance part selection, such as what combination of cam, head mods, induction, ignition and particularly exhaust systems work well together can be best determined by using a dynamometer.